Birmingham Albion FC, a newly established football club founded by two Kuwaiti businessmen, has officially joined the West Midlands Regional League Division 1, placing it in the 12th tier of the English football pyramid. Incorporated in 2025, the club is a rare example of a football team started from scratch by Arab founders in England, a departure from the more common approach of Middle Eastern investors acquiring existing clubs.
The founders, Faisal Al-Serbal and Fahad Obaid, emphasized their intention to create a community-focused club with strong ties between Birmingham and Kuwait. They secured a ground-share arrangement with Coton Green Football Club, allowing Birmingham Albion to use the Dave Henderson Memorial Ground for the 2026/27 season. The club also announced a partnership with Approach, a Kuwaiti-based multi-service marketplace app, which serves as the team’s official shirt sponsor and provides jerseys available through the club’s dedicated app.
While Middle Eastern ownership of English football clubs is not unprecedented—previous examples include the Al-Hasawi family’s ownership of Nottingham Forest (2012-2017), Dr. Abdullah Al-Humaidi’s KEH Sports’ management of Ebbsfleet United (2013-2026), and other current investors such as Mohammed Al-Kandari at Andover Town and Ali Al-Hamad at Salisbury FC—Birmingham Albion represents a unique initiative in establishing a new club from the ground up.
Al-Serbal acknowledged that starting a lower-league club in England presents challenges but also opportunities to build a genuine local connection. “What is special about clubs in the lower leagues is that everyone in the community cares about them — it truly feels like their club,” he said. Despite receiving some criticism related to the founders’ non-English backgrounds, the club remains committed to contributing positively through community programs, youth academies, and cultural events in Birmingham.
The club has also engaged with players from the Kuwaiti League, inviting them to train during international breaks, although regulatory restrictions prevent non-resident players from participating in league matches at this level. This approach is intended to provide exposure and development experiences for Kuwaiti players, rather than to field them in competitive fixtures.
Looking ahead, Birmingham Albion has set modest sporting goals, aiming to achieve promotion by one or two divisions over the next five years. Al-Serbal noted that ambitions for rapid ascents through several tiers are unrealistic in the competitive environment of English football. Instead, the focus remains on gradual growth and sustainable integration within the local football landscape and community.